Suspension means



p 0, 1966 w. FELDMAHR SUSPENSION MEANS Filed Jan. 26, 1965 INVENTOR WALTEF? FELDMAHQ BY United States Patent 3,273,564 SUSPENSION MEANS Walter Feldmahr, Canton, N.Y., assignor to Gary Industries, Inc., doing business as Acco Products, ()gdensburg, N.Y., a corporation of Nevada Filed Jan. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 428,115 1 Claim. (Cl. 129-16) The invention relates to suspension means for file folders and is more particularly concerned with the novel construction and assembly of support rails having suspension file folder retention means associated therewith.

The invention is more particularly related to the use, in association with a suspension track or guide rails, of novel means to retain the hanger strips of a suspension file folder seated on the track and which means is of such nature that it may be easily and quickly moved into and retained in ineffective and effective positions. Such repositioning of the retaining means is required when file folders are engaged with or disengaged from the track and after such folders are in place on the tracks. In known devices of this nature the tracks or guide rails are formed by the free edges of the upstanding wall of each of a pair of angle beams spaced apart laterally and parallel one to the other. The hanger strips on the file folders are in the form of flat metal straps secured to the file folder edges and having hook-like elements on their ends adapted to engage over the upstanding edges of the guide rails loosely so that the file folders can be moved therealong. Noise generated by such movement is minimized or wholly eliminated in the present disclosure by arranging on the upstanding guide rails a layer of suitable antifriction sound'deadening material.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide novel means to retain file folders in place on guide rails from which they are suspended.

Another object is to provide novel mounting means for such retaining means.

Another object is to provide, in a structure of the character described, novel means to minimize noises of movement of file folders along the guide rails.

Another object is to provide a structure of the character referred to which is inexpensive and simple to construct and efiicient in use and easy to use.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages and objects of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustnative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a file cabinet equipped with tracks and associated file folder retaining means embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a track and retaining means, showing a folder suspended therefrom.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the invention may be incorporated in a cabinet structure 11 which includes a back wall 12, a top wall 13, end walls 14 and an open front 15. One or more pairs of tracks 16 are extended between end walls 14 and secured at their ends thereto. These tracks preferably are in the form of U-beams including an upstanding wall 17 which constitutes a rail upon which are seated the respective hook-like end portions 18a of hanger strips 18 attached to the upper free edges of a file folder 19. As is well understood, the file folders 19 are free to be shifted longitudinally along the rails 17 and may be inserted and removed by initially disengaging the front hook-like portions of the folder from the front rail and then lifting the notched rear hook-like portion 18a from the rearmost rail, is illustrated generally in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

3,273,564 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 In order to minimize and perhaps eliminate all noises generated upon sliding the file folders along the rails, the top edge of said rails is provided with a moulding 21 of noise deadening material, such as nylon or other plastic material.

It frequently occurs that during movement of the file folders along the tracks or while inserting or removing the contents therefrom, the rear hook-like end of a hanger strip 18 becomes disengaged from the rail. This is avoided in the present structure by the provision of a retainer or lock bar or rod 22. This rod is coextensive with the length of the rail and is mounted at its ends in guide blocks 23 (one shown). This guide block may be fabricated from any suitable material, preferably plastic such as nylon, and it is fitted over the end of the track 16 and secured in place in any suitable fashion. It has, on its inside face, a convolute groove or slot 24 which receives the end of the rod 22 therein. This groove, which is substantially U-shaped, includes a reversedly turned lower leg portion 24a in which the rod is seated when the rod is in the file folder locking position shown in full lines in FIG. 2.

When a file folder is to be removed or added, the rod 22 is initially moved forwardly into the leg portion 24a, then upwardly through the vertical portion 24b wherefrom it is moved into the rearwardly downwardly inclined upper leg portion 24c where it is permitted to rest. This repositioning locates the rod 22 in a position and at an elevation sulficiently high to permit the hook-like end portion 18a of the file folder hanger strip 18 to be engaged over or disengaged from the rail 17. When in file folder retaining position (full lines) the rod 22 is frictionally held by providing for a slight reduction in the Width of at least the entrance area of the lower leg por tion 24:: of the groove.

Although the improved structure is disclosed herein in association with a cabinet it should be apparent that the improvement may be incorporated in a file drawer, rack or other support means.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure disclosed may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

In a structure for suspending file folders having hooklike extensions on opposite ends thereof, said structure comprising, a pair of spaced apart parallel horizontally extending rails over which the hook-like extensions are engaged, guide blocks one at each end of one of said rails, a convolute slotted track in each guide block, a lock bar coextensive with said one rail and having its ends engaged in said tracks; said tracks each including a lower horizontal portion disposed transversely of the guide rail and into which the guide rod may 'be moved to locate the rod closely adjacent to the said one rail to prevent upward displacement of the one hook-like extension engaged thereover, said lower horizontal portion extending from adjacent said one rail forwardly toward the other rail and terminating at its forward end in an upwardly extending slot portion and :being restricted in its width at its juncture with said upwardly extending slot portion to restnain movement of the lock bar into said upwardly extending slot portion, a second substantially horizontal slot portion in communication with the upper end of said upwardly extending slot portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rearmost end portion of said 3 4% upper horizontal slot portion being inclined downward- References Cited by the Examiner ly to restrain movement of the lock bar in a forward di- UNITED STATES PATENTS rection when said lock bar is carried into said upper 2,935,204 5 /1960 Jonas et aL X horizontal slot portion said rearrnost end portlon terminat- 5 FOREIGN PATENTS mg rearwardly of said one rail and said one hook-like extension to allow upward displacement of the hook-like 1 22 :523

element when said lock bar is moved into said rearmost end o ti JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

